Communication system for a distributed intelligent controller

New emerging standards are having an impact on the development and use of i ndustrial controllers. But such developments need a formal approach to desi gn an appropriate device, system or equipment that will cover an industry s egment. Communication network design is becoming increasingly complex as mo re requirements are imposed on them. This paper presents the current status of a joint development project between the Automatic Control and Computer Engineering Department of the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, and DES IN instruments S.A. After an introduction, the Fieldbus Foundation communic ation model, the initial prototype structure and future developments are pr esented. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.